The Alpha King's Contracted Luna (Ava and Grayson)
My Billionaire King 38

Chapter 38

-Ava's POV

He took me to Italy!

Italy!

I was still trying to wrap my mind around it as we landed. Not just on any ordinary flight either-

his private jet. Grayson h driven straight to his private hangar, ordered me onto the jet, and now, here we were.

In Italy. For pizza.

I stared at the breathtaking view of the Italian countryside as the jet slowed to a stop, my mind racing. I was just going to order in. Who take Grayson Blackwood, apparently.

He didn't even ask if I had plans, or work to do. He just... decided. And the most ridiculous part was that I had actually followed him. I could Just throwing his weight-and wealth-around like it was no big deal?

I wasn't exactly dressed for this either. The simple jeans and sweater instead of a coat I'd thrown on earlier felt completely out of place as h powerful-

and the way people scrambled to open doors for him, clear pathways, it was like watching a lion movi through a field of sheep.

The ride was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I caught myself glancing at him every few seconds, trying to make sense of this man who c cold, calculating. The kind of cold, like he could shut out the entire world without blinking.

Yet here we were, on what felt like... a romantic getaway.

No. It wasn't a romantic getaway. It couldn't be. There was nothing between us like that.

Right?

Stop dreaming Ava.

We finally pulled up to a restaurant that oozed elegance. One of those places where just the scent of food in the air screamed “expensive.” Before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out. "I'm not even dressed for this place

Grayson paused, turning to me with that cool, detached expression that always made my heart jump. “It doesn't matter what you wear," he

1 blinked, taken aback. It wasn't just what he said, it was how he said it-like my beauty wasn't even a

question. Like he had decided, and that was that. I swallowed, heat rushing to my checks.

Was he even aware of how his words affected people?

He continued walking without another word, and I had no chole but to follow, still trying to process the fact that Grayson

09:01 Fri, Dec 13 TG

Chapter 38

Blackwood had just complimented me.

Even more baffling?

The fact that it hit me so hard.

We stepped inside the restaurant, and immediately, all eyes turned to him. People whispered, and heads turned like magnets dr to steel, bu the restaurant like he owned the place- which, starting to know him, he probably did.

As we approached a table, a man I assumed was the chef hurried over, his face breaking into the broadest grin I'd ever seen.

"Signor Blackwood! It's been too long!" The chef practically kissed Grayson's hand, his enthusiasm borderline ridiculous. I stood there, duml Then, the chef turned to me, his eyes widening as if he was seeing something unbelievable. "Che bellezza!" he exclaimed, "Welcome: Welc 1 blinked. "Uh... pizza?" I muttered awkwardly.

He gasped, dramatically waving my suggestion off. "Nonsense! I will make you something far more worthy of your beauty. Leave it to me!"

I wasn't sure what to say, so I just nodded, blushing under the weight of his flattery. Grayson, meanwhile, had already seated himself, looki

Was this real life?

I slid into the chair across from him, my thoughts still swirling. Everything felt surreal-

the atmosphere, the people watching us, and most of all, Grayson How could he sit there, completely unfazed by all of this?

“So...” I began, trying to break the silence that had settled between us. He had gone quiet again, his focus entirely on his phone now. “Do y Grayson glanced up at me, eyebrow raised. "Do what?"

1 gestured around. "This. Flying to Italy on a whim, being treated like royalty... that sort of thing.”

His lips curled into a smirk, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I am royalty and if I want something. I get it," he said simply. “It's as straightfor as that."

I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. What kind of answer was that?

And yet... it fit him. It fit the image of who he was. Cold, ruthless, completely in control. I guess it was just strange to experience it firsthand. The chef returned moments later with plates of food I couldn't even name, placing them in front of us with flourish. My stomach growled at th “Grazie, la chiamerò se avrà bisogno di qualcos'altro." ("Thank you, I'll call you if she needs anything else.") Grayson chef, Interrupting my Of course he spoke Italian.

The chef smiled at me, I returned it and then he left. Grayson turned to me. "Eat. You wanted pizza, so you'll eat.”

I glanced at him, realizing how ridiculous that sounded. This wasn't pizza. This was an entire gourmet spread. But

told the

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Chapter 38

1.

something

about the way he said it made it impossible to argue. He wasn't just telling me to eat. He was commanding it.

So, I picked up my fork, taking a bite of what looked like some kind of pasta. And, unsurprisingly, it was delicious. The foc melted in my mou flavorful in a way that simple pizza couldn't compare to.

As I ate, I tried to steal glances at him, wondering

what on earth was doing here with him. There was something magneti about him, something that drew me in even though every instinct tol "Why did you bring me here?” I blurted out suddenly, the question burning on my tongue.

Grayson leaned back in his chair, studying me with those unreadable eyes. For a moment, I thought he wasn't going to answer, but then he Three simple words. But the weight behind them... it was staggering.

Because he could. Because he had the power, the wealth, the influence to do whatever he wanted, whenever he want Including flying a wo It wasn't an answer. At least, not a satisfying one. But I didn't press him. Instead, I finished my meal in silence, trying not to think about how

People were still glancing our way,

whispering. And Grayson? He remained completely composed, like this attention was hi natural habitat. He didn't care that people stared, d had practically worshipped him, didn't

care abou anything except..... what? His control? His dominance over every situation?

As the meal ended, I found myself feeling oddly... out of place. Like I didn't belong here with him. My family was rich but it still felt like we ca

And yet, here we were.

The plates cleared as quickly as they had arrived, but Grayson didn't even look up from his phone. He was still typing away. the faint blue g I hadn' even asked if he was going to eat.

I cleared my throat, trying to break through the wall of silence. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Grayson's eyes flickered up from his phone, cool and distant as usual. “I'm not hungry right now. I will eat when we get back to the hotel.”

Wait, what?

I blinked once, then twice, feeling the weight of his words settle in my chest. "What hotel?"

Grayson looked back up at me,

his expression entirely unfazed. The hotel you and I will be staying at,” he replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "We're stay

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